What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy, or peripheral neuropathy, is damage to the nerves outside of your central nervous system (CNS). Your CNS includes your brain, brain stem, and spinal cord, and all other nerves are called peripheral nerves.
Your neuropathy may or may not be treatable, depending on its cause and the extent of the damage. However, there are always ways to manage your symptoms, and you can prevent more nerve damage by working with the team at Florida Pain Management Institute.
What causes neuropathy?
Neuropathy damage either affects the protective myelin sheath or the nerve axons, which carry the nerve impulses. It can also affect both components of your nerves. You can develop neuropathy because of:
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Mismanaged or unmanaged diabetes
- Infections
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Toxins in the foods you eat
- Traumatic injuries
- Autoimmune diseases
- Alcoholism
- Certain medications
- Hereditary conditions
Sometimes, neuropathy appears with no cause that you can identify. This is called idiopathic neuropathy, and it affects around 23% of people who have the symptoms. Around 60% of all people with neuropathy have it because of diabetes.
What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
Neuropathy has a distinct set of symptoms, but they can vary a bit based on the underlying cause, the specific nerves the condition affects, and other varying factors. If you have neuropathy, you might experience:
- Numbness
- Tingling or pins-and-needles sensations
- Touch sensitivity
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle twitching
- Trouble with balance and coordination
- Low blood pressure
- Too much or too little sweating
- Dysfunctional organs
- Bowel and bladder issues
- Sexual dysfunction
Fortunately, nerves have the ability to recover or regenerate within your body, so you might see a drastic improvement in your symptoms with the right treatment. Sometimes, the symptoms go away entirely. However, with diabetic neuropathy, you can only manage your symptoms and prevent further damage.
How can I manage my neuropathy?
Neuropathy management is possible with help from the team at Florida Pain Management Institute. They work with you to find out what’s causing your neuropathy, which dictates the treatments that will work best in your case. Usually, the best way to manage your neuropathy and stop it from getting worse is to treat the underlying condition directly.
Treatments that can help you manage your symptoms include:
- Pain medications
- Antidepressants
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Nutrition management
- Smoking cessation
- Spinal cord stimulation
Without treatment, neuropathy — especially diabetic neuropathy — can result in the need for limb amputation. Since the nerve damage can stop you from feeling pain, ulcers, infections, and injuries often go unnoticed until they’re no longer treatable.
Experiencing frequent numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain may be a sign of peripheral neuropathy. Don’t hesitate to call Florida Pain Management Institute for an evaluation or book online today.